In emergency services, a psychologically healthy and safe environment directly contributes to member wellbeing and resilience. Conversely, the inappropriate management of potentially traumatic events, bullying, harassment, and discrimination, interpersonal conflict, mental illness (e.g. depression, anxiety, substance use and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and mental health problems (loss of motivation, irritability, sadness and anxiety) directly contributes to member distress and reduced wellbeing and resilience.

Moderate to severe psychological distress directly influences the day-to-day functioning of a brigade and psychological wellbeing of members affected. This, in turn, impacts on brigade viability, requiring significant time and effort to manage and resolve. In 2012, the Country Fire Authority (CFA) board signed off on its health, safety and environment strategy, which included a strong focus on psychological health and safety with the aim of developing a culture in which psychological health and safety is given as much attention as physical health and safety in all areas of CFA.

To achieve this, CFA has implemented initiatives focusing on psychological wellbeing and mental health with the aim of not only enhancing existing support services (Peer Support Program, Member Assistance Program, Chaplaincy Program) but improving CFA’s overall capacity to support its volunteers and employees.

These include but are not limited to:

• Research on disaster affected communities
• Revised Member Assistance Program – including skills for psychological recovery service
• Mental health online toolkit
• Field-Based Psychological Wellbeing Pilot

By providing a range of specialist programs, services and advice, CFA has been able to deliver tailored solutions at a local level to meet specific needs. CFA is already experiencing the benefits of these initiatives by not only meeting legislative requirements to reduce psychological health and safety risks but also by increasing overall organisational capacity to manage psychological wellbeing and reduce the impacts on the psychological health and safety of its members.